Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-23

The DUTY Of The HUUR.
In this age when the conflict RACES be-
tween the public good and the powers
: that be, whether of corrupt political
or legislative influence, WORKOUT usage
or custom, effete religious or social doc
trine or authority becomes the duty
of every advocate of progression. justice
and popular rights, to watch closely the
of public men and public
bodies, and warn the people against i'm
positionand abuse by the misuse of rep
resentative power for the accomplish
ment of social, political or personal ends.
Only the popular side of much that is
going on in public affairs, ever reaches
the ear of the people. The most fragrant
abuse of power and willful misrepresen-
tation of the rights and demands of
struggling humanity, alone can rouse the
people to sense of the condemnation
and denunciation demanded. They are
net educated that way. History proves
that social and political revolutions best
break the mornings of burdened human
ity, and give them an impetus towards
the object of all creation. Persecution
has the same effect, and American
liberty, happiness and prosperity are
built upon the blackened embers from
the extinct craters of Smithfeld and
Tyburne, of Bunker Hill, Yorktown and
Appomattox.
Submission to the existing order of
things is preached on every hand, as if
men were in conscience bound to follow
established authority in blind obedi-
ence forever. In the course of human
avapfc - povor optorc into tho doctrine of
those who revel in ease and comfort and
stand in high favor with the powers that
be. But it does enter into the welfare
of that tide of emigration which builds
countries and nations. and out of whose
sweat and blood the last drop of tribute
is pressed to keep up the monied classes
and caste distinctions. Take the pa
triots OF American Independence
Had they listened to the powers that
be- the heel of tyranny would still
stihe the unborn cry of freedom and in
place of the long array of native states
ling government would yet Cypress us.
In Ireland conscientious submission to
an oppressive authority makes servitude
all the more calling and 80 close-linked
is the bond of sympathy between the
powers of greatness, that if every poor
person in Ireland died in the ditch, not
a word of protest would be uttered by
the highest civil and religious authority
for fear of Earring the royal tympanum'
Policy is of greater moment than
comfort to down-trodden people. The
Irish are the real owners of the soil, but
never yet was man communicated for
taking it from them. Here man talks
about the land belonging to the people
and off goes his head. In both cases, the
true cause is sympathy and desire to be
on good terms with the powers thai
be-"
Furthermore, in the same line Of
preaching we are told in implied terms
that the only way of maintaining our re-
spectability and standing is by a gener
GUS interchange of compliments with the
society," and that those who follow a
contrary course lose all claim to consid
Grafton. In other words, if you are poor
and friendless and without influence
humble submission and an august feal
and respect for your superiors, is your
bounden duty. Whatever those above
you do is right and yOn must respect and
honor them: the church herself OBJ
serves the rule, in paying honor and rev
erence in proportion to the influence OF
the position held and the power courted
That may be christian doctrine, but it il
not American sentiment.
The idea has come down to us from the
days of feudalism, when kings were gods
and could do no wrong. Respect for
persons of authority in olden times was
a matter of compulsion now it is vol
untary mark of love and gratitude. Rev.
erence for greatness is in conf1iction with
the guarantee of our constitution, that
all men are free and equal,-an edict
not approved by the church anymore
than private ownership of land theories,
but never found polite or expedient to be
openly condemned on account of its
general acceptance, The church says
the constitution is goddess, but this is a
great country and the church fourishes
all the same. If the theorem rested
alone upon an individual notion" the
individual and his notion would be ex-
communicated. In this progressive age,
in which the struggle for power and pos
ition is an Inheritance of the poorest as
we'll as of the greatest, the idea once es-
tablished that authority is above re-
proach would work destruction. If our
officers and public men enjoyed perfect
immunity from criticism and were not
accountable to the people, fraud and
corruption would flourish every W here
like a green bay tree.
The labor question and land theories
may be treated in the same line of ar
gument in their relation to +" the powers
that be-" just at present it is not pop
ular subject, but there are many points
that could not be made to stand in the
face of past facts, and many more that
can not stand now, but years hence will
fit in their place in the onward march OF
human rights and the freedom and
liberty of man. This idea of free
thought, free speech and individual
rights, has had slow growth, and as
far as the eye can reach In the dim vista
of the past its course is marked by per.
secution, oppression and bloodshed
Fire and sword, pillage and plunder,-
the stake, the. headsman, the tower and
the secret council chamber, have done
their cruel work for ages, but the light
of new dispensation is slowly and
surely dawning. Could the spirits OF
the centuries revisit the scenes that once
knew them, the knowledge that theil
sufferings and deprivations have moi
been in vain, would make their long res
the more peaceful and refreshing.
There are those who look upon the
advancement of such ideas as an evi
dence of proud and insubordinatt
spirit, one that would subvert existing
order and substitute universal chaos
but the true friends of mankind, thu
strongest supporters of church and state
the representatives of honest and sub
stantial society, will admit that there
can be liberty without license anc
authority without the abridgment Of
| right or reason. True liberty consists il
| wise observance of the law and true
law is the forerunner of all liberty
| Authority of itself does not exist. Il
comes from God and is delegated by Hi:
people /; therefore public sentiment i,
the highest authority, and that SHOULD
be regulated by the public good. THAI
| il ia not is what all God-giyen nnwnr.